That within 6 months, Hornady would have 450-400 loaded ammo, dies, and probably brass available. I asked them to go ahead and make my custom dies since I needed them before then, but I'd be very interested in their components. That's a pretty cool development. Bob

quote:

Originally posted by bobc:
That within 6 months, Hornady would have 450-400 loaded ammo, dies, and probably brass available. I asked them to go ahead and make my custom dies since I needed them before then, but I'd be very interested in their components. That's a pretty cool development. Bob

.450 N.E. 3 1/4 would be more interesting.

Not if you have a 450-400.

I guess Craig Boddington was right about the Ruger #1 in 450/400 3 inch! It will be nice to have the bullets and brass!

A little bird told me that Hornady intends to be a major competitor in the Safari ammunition game.

Rusty:

I think you are right on..after your other post that was my first thought..why else would Hornady bring it out..would be a nice option....

I really wish they'd make compnents for the .470NE.

It being the most popular NE round by a factor of about ten.

If so YAAAA HOOOOO!

Unfortunately, my 450/400 is the 3 1/4" variety.
This probably means I will still get to "enjoy"
hours of reloading. There are worse things!

Maybe this is the time to email Steve Horndy and petition him to add other Nitro Expresses that are reasonably common (like 470 and 450-400 3-1/4. Bob

The .470 is the most popular today, but that was a late post-war development. There have been more doubles built in the .450/.400s than any other over .40 caliber, and they've become extremely popular of late. The .470 is well covered, the .400 isn't. I imagine that's part of what Hornady has in mind.
----------------------------------------------
"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

http://www.african-hunter.com/450_400_nitro_express.htm

a good read on the 450-400

I hope this means a 450/400 no. 1 won't be far behind. I doubt Hornady would come out with a new caliber without some sort of understanding with a rifle manufacturer. Any word on what diameter they'll pick?

Bob

While the 470 is the most popular Nitro Express in new made doubles today, if more companies made the 450/400 I think it would surpass the 470.
The 450/400 on the Chapuis frame from www.evo-rifles.com and the Searcy Classic in 450/400 should go a long way to put the 450/400 on the modern double rifle map.

quote:

Originally posted by Omnivorous_Bob:
I hope this means a 450/400 no. 1 won't be far behind. I doubt Hornady would come out with a new caliber without some sort of understanding with a rifle manufacturer.

I know it's not likely at all but can you imagine being able to purchase a Ruger No. 1 and a Gold Label based double rifle both in 450/400 ! I know I'd be in for the pair!

Best,

John

quote:

Originally posted by 400 Nitro Express:
The .470 is the most popular today, but that was a late post-war development. There have been more doubles built in the .450/.400s than any other over .40 caliber, and they've become extremely popular of late. The .470 is well covered, the .400 isn't. I imagine that's part of what Hornady has in mind.
----------------------------------------------
"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

In further times the .450 N.E. 3 1/4 was the most popular DR cartridge by far:

http://www.african-hunter.com/450_nitro_express.htm

From Hornady:

Bob,

We are considering either .410" or .411" and we have found that most bullets are .410" dia. for the .450-400" we will need to make the dies for those that have .408" dia. bores in their .450-400's. We are in a quandary as to whether we should make a .408" dia. bullet as well. Being we already have .411" dia. bullets, we might make .410" dia. bullets to load in the .450-400. This is something that is up to Mr. Hornady and the engineers to make the decision on this matter.

Lonnie

Hmmm. Guess I could simply have the No. 1 .405 rechambered. That is very interesting news.

oh Lord let this be true.....

It has been a couple of months since this thread was started. Any news on progress regarding Hornady releasing this caliber?

I would think that there would have to be an agreement or understanding with, say, Ruger, to release a rifle in this caliber in order to support this business decision.

I am a little surprised that they apparently intend to come out with this caliber versus the 470 NE. As others have commented the 470 has become the "30-06" of big bore double rifles. Pictures on Searcy's website, for those picture for which there is information, seems to consist solely of 470s.

One can hope that maybe they will be coming out woth more "African" calibers.

I would think that if they could come out with 470 loadings of $100 or so per box (or about half of what the Federal ammo is and comparable to the price differential for the 416 Rigby) that they could capture a large percentage of a bigger market segment.

I'm expecting my Hornady custom dies soon, so I'll ask for an update when they are ready to send to me. One thing for the 450-400 perhaps is that Ruger already has .411 barrels for the 405 winchester. I'll see what I can find out.

Well... after calling CH and buying my 470 capstick dies, that were in stock ready to ship... I called the other day to special order my 475 nitro 3 1/4" dies, and buy a 444 press while I was at it.... I fell over when the girl there goes, wait, we have those in stock... around $140... much cheaper than any other die maker I checked with... and great quality, fast shipping and nice people there... You might want to consider them in the future...

quote:

One thing for the 450-400 perhaps is that Ruger already has .411 barrels for the 405 winchester.

In the words of Homer Simpson "D'OH". I had not thought about the existence of the .411" barrels for the 405. That could explain it.

Thanks

I purchased the C&H dies including the trim die and shell holder, all in stock, for around $200. I have been using them for a couple of months now and they work just fine, no complaints whatever and fast service. These were for 450/400 3". Lee.

I have a Ruger single shot that is about to be rebarrelled to .450/400 3" so when I read this thread I thought that I would email Hornady and ask if there is any truth to the matter and whether they would be providing .450/400 with either the .408" or .411" diameter bullets, and this is the answer I got (reproduced without any changes):

------------------------------------------------

"Thanks for the inquiry. So much for well kept secrets since plans seem to have made it all 'round the world.
We are working on the 450/400. and we are testing it in Ruger No.1. It is inappropriate for me to state Ruger will or will not be making it. I think they're thinking favorably but I know it won't be introduced before next year if they decide to proceed.
Ah, the bullet dilemma. Frankly we don't have a good answer. The gun we're using was a 405 Winchester so the barrel diameter is .412. However the test ammo we are going to make will probably be .410 or possibly .409 even, in order to not create too much pressure in the .408 barrels and still shoot acceptably in the .411's. We are open to advice since there are very few new guns being made. I don't think Ruger really cares because they would have to build a new mandrel anyway. In our opinion I would prefer the .411 barrel and I think the undersized bullets will still upset enough to adequately grip the rifling."

------------------------------------------------

So it would seem that the little bird was right. Now we just have to start pestering Ruger to make sure that they go through with the plans and introduce the .450/400.

I received a similar reply from Hornady and also the comment that they are "thinking" about loading 470 Nitro Express ammo. They said that the 470 will be further considered after additional testing of the 450/400.

Now, with Ruger chambering the No. 1 in 9.3x74R, maybe Hornady will follow suit with that and the 9.3x62.

Well,
hornady jackets are nortoriously plenty soft.. they out to make the bullet .409 and go!! if a fella can't get them to shoot right, I bet dave at CH4D would make him a swag die, right cheap, too.

Now, what *I* want is hornady to make 50cent .475 500gr bullets!!!

jeffe

Any one know what bullet diameter Searcy is using in his 450/400s? I was always under the assumption that most 450/400 3" were .408 and most 450/400 3 1/4" were .411. Am I wrong there?

465H&H

I've already asked if I could get a .408 caliber. Butch's 450/400 3 inch rifles are .411.

And 450 ne 3 1/4 inch aswell, that would be reasonbly priced brass for rifles . 450-400 is a good round, i havent used it my self but is a round that suits all hunting everywhere with the right load. Norma is loading 404 jeffrey and 500 3 inch ne , and 505 gibbs so the ammo manufactures has understood it , that there someone out there who needs bigger and better ammo for purposes.

Well, in the meantime, Huntingtons has just received lots of 450/400 3" brass, so that's where I ordered my supply!

~Arctic~

quote:

In further times the .450 N.E. 3 1/4 was the most popular DR cartridge by far:

http://www.african-hunter.com/450_nitro_express.htm

Quite true. Had the Brits not banned the .450's in some of their then colonies, the .470, .465, .476, etc. would very likely never have been born.

I have a No.1 that has been rebarreled to .450/400 3". I gave up years ago on Ruger doing one. What a fantastic gun. Since mine is .411, I would be thrilled to see Hornady come out with that as their bullet diameter.

I would like to see Ruger come out with a 450/400. What would really be great is if they color case hardened the action. I had mine done and it is a great look for a classically styled gun in a classic caliber.

hey AK Hunter,
how bout some pics of that #1. i have a stainless #1 in .405 that i'm thinking about having rechambered to 450/400. it wont be near as purty as yours of course. right now i'm anxiously awaiting delivery of my double in that caliber from Butch.

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
I guess Craig Boddington was right about the Ruger #1 in 450/400 3 inch! It will be nice to have the bullets and brass!

It only makes sense, since all they'd have to do is chamber the 405 No1 with a 450/400NE 3" reamer, and place a different extractor in place!

AK Hunter: Your rifle doesn't by chance have a Chick Donnelly (Siskiyou Barrel Works) barrel on it does it? I had a No. 1 rebarreled by Chick maybe 10 years ago, and when I consigned it to a local shop, it went to someone in Alaska. Often wonder where it ended up ...

Bill,
Yes the barrel is marked Donnelly. It may have been yours originally. I was planning to have a gunsmith rebarrel one when I saw this one listed in Gun List. Couldn't resist.

Since I bought it, I have done the following:
- had the action color casehardened
- had my gunsmith rework the safety catch. It now sits into a groove in the tang so its lower in profile. The big rimmed cases now don't catch on it.
- mounted a 1.5x5 Leupold

Love this gun. It shoots fantastic. Love this gun!

I was informed by 400 Nitro Express that the Ruger #1 in 400 Jeffery isn't going to happen. Don't know the Whys or Hows.

Too bad! Would have liked to have had a source of dependable brass!

Rusty it isn't all lost, simply buy the 405 Ruger No1, and rechamber it, but it will have a .411" bore, so you will have to watch your ammo because of your .408" double rifle!